JP2002117488A - Mobile communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide, from a moving body, only information necessary for operation including running, with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: A current position of a route bus is calculated (step 100), and a traveling distance L of the route bus is calculated (step 1).
02) If it is time to transmit data after the route bus has traveled a certain distance (Yes at step 104), the current position P is transmitted to the operation management center (step 10).
6) The data of the current position P is stored in the memory as the data of the previous position P1 for use in the next determination (P
0 ← P), the value of the traveling distance L is cleared (L = 0) (steps 108 and 110). As a result, the position data is transmitted at regular intervals, and data transmission (communication) is not frequently performed when the amount of movement is small.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device for a mobile object, and more particularly to a communication device for a mobile object for providing information relating to the movement of a mobile object traveling on a travel route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A moving body such as a route bus or a tour bus travels by raising and lowering a user at a stop according to an operation plan such as a predetermined operation route. For this reason, a timetable such as the arrival time and arrival interval of the moving object is displayed at the stop. Since the traveling of the moving object changes depending on the passenger's elevating and lowering conditions, traffic conditions, and the like, the arrival time of the moving object at each stop may be accelerated or delayed.

[0003] In these moving objects such as buses, there is a difference between the operation plan and the actual operation, and it is difficult for the base station managing the operation to recognize the difference, and the operation plan is grasped in real time. It was difficult.

In order to solve this problem, a bus data transmission method capable of transmitting the current position information of a moving body such as a bus at fixed time intervals has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-2354).
No. 97). In this technique, the bus position is transmitted to the base station as it is after a certain period of time has passed while grasping the bus position.

[0005]

However, the traveling of the moving body changes depending on the elevating and descending conditions of the passengers and the traffic conditions (for example, traffic jams). Transmission is performed, and as a result, almost duplicated data may be transmitted. This has led to an increase in communication costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication device capable of providing only information necessary for operation, including traveling of a mobile object, with a simple configuration in consideration of the above fact.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication device for a mobile object according to the present invention comprises: a position detecting means for detecting a position of the mobile object traveling on a predetermined operation route; Traveling distance detecting means for detecting the traveling distance; determining means for determining whether the traveling distance detected by the traveling distance detecting means has exceeded a predetermined reference distance from the position of the moving body transmitted last time; and the determining means And transmitting means for transmitting the position of the mobile object detected by the position detecting means to the base station based on the result of the above.

[0008] A moving body traveling on an operation route has an operation route determined at the time of traveling, and may pass or stop at a stop. This moving body includes vehicles that transport passengers such as buses and taxis, and more specifically, buses that operate on predetermined routes such as route buses and circuit buses, and within a predetermined route or range such as a shared taxi. There is a vehicle that carries a certain user or an unspecified number of users.

The moving body detects the position of the moving body by means of position detecting means. The detected position of the moving object is transmitted to the base station under certain conditions described below. Thereby, the base station can grasp the position of the mobile unit. When the position of the moving body is detected, the running distance of the moving body is detected by the running distance detecting means. The mileage is
It can be obtained from the distance between the detected position of the moving object and the reference position. The reference position is a reference point on the operation route, that is, the position at the time of the previous transmission.
The determining means determines whether or not the traveling distance has exceeded a predetermined reference distance from the position of the moving object transmitted last time. Based on the result of the determination, the transmitting unit transmits the position of the moving object detected by the position detecting unit to the base station. The reference distance for determination includes a traveling distance obtained by traveling at a standard speed. For example, there is a distance at which it is predicted that position data will be obtained at a speed at which the moving object travels on an operation route when an operation plan is made. Therefore, for example, when the distance is within the reference distance, the transmission unit does not transmit the position of the moving object, and transmits only when the distance exceeds the reference distance. As a result, even when the traveling distance is short due to the speed of the moving body on the operation route, for example, traffic jam in the vicinity, data transmission can be performed only when necessary without increasing the number of transmissions.

[0010] The communication device for a moving body further includes speed detecting means for detecting a moving speed of the moving body, and speed changing means for changing the reference distance based on a detection result of the speed detecting means. Can be.

[0011] The moving body sometimes travels on a toll road such as an expressway or a traveling road on which a slow motion is defined. In such a case, if the fixed reference distance is set, the number of times of communication varies. Therefore, if the reference distance is changed according to the moving speed of the moving body, the moving body during traveling can transmit its position at substantially constant intervals. For example, the distance can be set to increase as the speed of the moving object increases, or the distance can be set to decrease as the speed of the moving object decreases.

[0012] Further, the communication device for a mobile unit determines a specific position in the operation route in advance, and detects a separation distance between the position of the mobile unit and the specific position.
The apparatus may further include a separation distance changing unit that changes the reference distance based on a detection result of the separation distance detection unit.

A moving body may stop at a stop existing in the middle of an operation route or at a predetermined stop position. In this case, in order to grasp that the vehicle is approaching the stop or the stop position, it is preferable that the situation of the moving body approaching is obtained as more data. Therefore, when a specific position is predetermined in an operation route such as a stop or a stop position, a separation distance between the position of the moving object and the specific position is detected by a separation distance detection unit. Then, the separation distance changing unit changes the reference distance based on the detection result of the separation distance detection unit. As described above, if the reference distance is changed according to the separation distance between the position of the moving object and the specific position, the moving object approaching the specific position can transmit the position more frequently. For example, the reference distance may be set to be shorter as the separation distance becomes shorter. As a result, even if a moving body traveling on a predetermined operation route passes through a road with high versatility and traffic (congestion degree), how the vehicle is currently operating and how much a specific position (a stop, (Stop position, etc.) can be provided with high accuracy.

[0014] The mobile unit itself that transmits the position of the mobile unit can employ a public transportation vehicle capable of moving passengers.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a bus location guidance system. In the present bus location guidance system, the route bus itself continuously detects the position of the own vehicle, and grasps the position of the route bus on the center side.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a conceptual configuration of a bus location guidance system 10 according to the present embodiment. Bus location guidance system 1 of the present embodiment
At 0, the route bus 12 on which the in-vehicle device 30 is mounted travels according to a predetermined operation route 14. A plurality of (here, four) stops BS1, BS2, BS3, and BS4 for elevating and lowering passengers are defined on the operation route 14.

The route bus 12 includes a route bus communication device 40.
And a vehicle-mounted device 30 connected to the GPS 41 (details will be described later). The route bus communication device 40 is for communicating information outside the route bus. GPS41,
This is for receiving signals from the GPS satellites 20A, 20B, and 20C to detect its own position. The onboard unit 30 mounted on the route bus 12 includes a GPS satellite 20A,
Its own position (current position) is specified by the GPS signals from 20B and 20C, and transmitted outside the route bus by communication.

In the bus location guidance system 10 of the present embodiment, an operation management center 19 for managing the operation of the route bus 12 running on the operation route is installed. The operation management center 19 receives information sent from the route bus, constantly grasps the current position of the route bus, and constantly monitors the current position. That is, the operation management center 19 is provided with the vehicle-mounted device 30 mounted on the route bus 12.
Information can be exchanged between The operation management center 19 may be configured to receive signals from the GPS satellites 20A, 20B, and 20C in order to correct a GPS signal having an error.

The operation management center 19 manages the position data of the route bus transmitted by wireless communication of the route bus to create a position database of the route bus, or displays the route bus on a display device installed in the operation management center. It is configured to monitor the position of a route bus. The operation management center can receive inquiries from outside (for example, homes), and can guide the operation status of the route bus corresponding to the inquiries, and can guide available service routes and available stops.

In this embodiment, the route bus 12 traveling on one operation route 14 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or a plurality of operation routes are provided for each of the plurality of operation routes. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the operation of a route bus is managed.

Next, an on-vehicle device mounted on the route bus 12 will be described. The in-vehicle device according to the present embodiment has a configuration that enables the own vehicle position detecting device to grasp the own vehicle position and to transmit the current position data by wirelessly communicating with the operation management center 19. I have.

As shown in FIG. 2, the on-vehicle devices 30 mounted on the route bus 12 are connected to a CPU 3 via a bus line 37 so that commands and data can be transmitted and received.
3, RAM 34, ROM 35, and input / output ports (I /
O) An apparatus main body 32 composed of a microcomputer consisting of 36 is provided. The RAM 34 is a backup ram, and backs up (stores) the stored information even when the power is turned off. The input / output port 36 has a floppy (registered trademark) disk FD.
Are connected to a floppy dusk unit FDU which can be inserted and withdrawn. The ROM 35 stores a processing routine and various data described below.

The various data and processing routines to be described later can be read from and written to the FD using the FDU.
Therefore, a processing routine to be described later may be recorded in the FD in advance without being stored in the ROM 35, and the processing program recorded in the FD may be executed via the FDU. Also, a large-capacity storage device (not shown) such as a hard disk device is connected to the device main body 32, and the processing program recorded in the FD is stored (installed) in the large-capacity storage device (not shown) and executed. Is also good. As a recording medium, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, MD, MO
When using these, a CD-ROM device, an MD device, an MO device, a DVD device, or the like may be used instead of the FDU.

The input / output port 36 is connected to a GPS 41 to which a GPS antenna 41A is connected.
The route bus communication device 40 is connected. GPS41
Is the GPS from the GPS satellites 20A, 20B, 20C
This is for specifying the position of the own route bus 12 by a signal. The route bus communication device 40 is for communicating or providing information to the ground side by communication, and employs a wireless communication device. An example of the wireless communication device is a mobile communication device such as a telephone line communication. That is, as the route bus communication device 40, a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone or an in-vehicle phone device can be used.
Wireless communication (data communication and conversation via a telephone line) can be made possible between the vehicle and a telephone device outside the vehicle via the on-vehicle device 30. The route bus communication device 40 of the present embodiment employs a mobile communication device, and can be switched between a call mode for making a call and a data communication mode for performing data communication.

A navigation device 45 is connected to the input / output port 36. The navigation device 45 includes a map database 45A that stores map information and audio information for providing route assistance information with video and audio to the driver. Although not shown, an information providing device that provides video and audio to the driver is provided near the driver's seat so as to enable optimal monitoring for the driver.

The input / output port 36 has a display device 42 for providing information of characters and images to passengers in the route bus 12 and a speaker 44A for providing audio information. The speaker device including the device 44 is connected. On the display device 42, information on a stop, such as the name of a stop to be stopped next, and information urging attention such as a sudden stop are displayed. In addition, the speaker device also provides information about a stop and information for calling attention to sudden stop or the like by voice information. In addition, the input / output port 36 includes
Switch box 43 for various instructions by driver
Is also connected.

Further, a vehicle behavior sensor 46 is connected to the input / output port 36. This vehicle behavior sensor 4
6 is a sensor for detecting the behavior of the route bus,
It is provided as needed. Examples include a vehicle height sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a traveling pulse sensor. The running pulse sensor detects a running distance by a pulse signal generated by rotation of a tire or the like. In addition, a gyro for specifying its own position by autonomous navigation can be used as the vehicle behavior sensor 46. In addition, as the vehicle behavior sensor 46, V
A sensor for receiving ICS information can also be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, a management control device 90 is installed in the operation management center 19, and the management control devices 90 are connected by bus lines 97 so that commands and data can be exchanged. CPU 93, RA
M94, ROM 95, and input / output port (I / O) 96
Device 9 composed of a microcomputer comprising
2 is provided. The RAM 94 is a backup ram, and backs up (stores) the stored information even when the power is turned off. I / O port 9
6, a floppy disk unit FDU to which a floppy disk FD can be inserted and withdrawn can be connected. Note that the ROM 95 stores a processing routine and various data described below.

The operation control center communication device 19A is connected to the input / output port 96. The operation management center communication device 19A is for communicating with the route bus 12, and a wireless communication device is employed in the present embodiment. Thereby, the communication device 19A for the operation management center
, Wireless communication (data communication or conversation via a telephone line) with a communication device installed on the route bus 12 can be made possible.

The input / output port 96 is connected to a display device 98 for displaying information such as the operation status of a route bus and the status of a stop at the operation management center 19. Note that a configuration in which a speaker device including a voice device provided with a speaker for providing voice information in the operation management center 19 may be connected.

Next, the operation of the bus location guidance system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a signal (information) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 30 mounted on the route bus 12 is transmitted to the operation management center 19.

First, the vehicle-mounted device 3 mounted on the route bus 12
The operation of 0 will be described. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicle-mounted device 30 transmits a control signal for setting the route bus communication device 40 to the data communication mode when the power is turned on. It is assumed that route guidance along the operation route 14 is displayed on the navigation device. That is, the operation route 14 is set in the navigation device 45 in advance.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the vehicle-mounted device 30 attached to the route bus 12, the following interrupt processing is executed every predetermined time (for example, one minute), and in step 100, the GPS 41 uses the GPS satellites 20A to 20C. From the local bus 12
Is calculated (for example, latitude and longitude). In this step 100, the traveling state of the route bus 12, such as the vehicle speed, can be detected.

The self-position coordinates calculated by the GPS 41 are sent to the navigation device 45 and can be made to correspond to the map. In other words, the navigation device 45 reads the map database 45A and associates the received current position (position coordinates) of the route bus 12 on the map with the current position (position coordinates) of the route bus 12 to obtain the current position data of the route bus 12. Get. The current position data is returned to the device main body 32, and the route bus 1 is displayed on the map data for navigation displayed on the display device 42.
2 can be displayed and presented to the driver.

In the next step 102, the travel distance L of the route bus is calculated. Here, the travel distance is obtained by first reading the previous position P0 (described later) stored in the memory and subtracting it from the position P detected this time (L
= P-P0). This traveling distance may be a straight distance or a distance along an operation route.

In the next step 104, it is determined whether or not L ≧ L0 to determine whether or not it is time to transmit data after the route bus 12 has traveled a predetermined distance.
L0 is a predetermined reference distance, which is predetermined as, for example, a distance interval desired to be received on the operation management center 19 side. If a negative determination is made in step 104, it is not the time for data transmission, and thus this routine ends.

On the other hand, if the result in step 104 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106 because it is the time for data transmission, and the current position data (the position P detected in step 100) is obtained.
To the operation management center 19. The transmission in step 106 is performed by the route bus communication device 40 in the data communication mode. In the next step 108,
For use in the next determination, the data of the current position P transmitted in step 106 is stored in the memory as data of the previous position P1 (P0 ← P), and the value of the traveling distance L is cleared in the next step 110 ( L = 0).

As described above, since the position data of the route bus 12 is transmitted from the route bus 12 at every fixed distance (L0), even if the position change (movement amount) of the route bus 12 is small. Frequent data transmission (communication) is not performed. Therefore, the communication frequency and the communication cost can be suppressed.

The processing of step 100 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the processing realized by the position detecting means of the present invention, and the processing of step 102 corresponds to the processing realized by the traveling distance detecting means of the present invention. Further, the determination in step 104 corresponds to the determination realized by the determination means of the present invention, and
Transmission of the current position of the route bus 06 corresponds to the processing realized by the transmission means of the present invention.

It is preferable to read the running state such as the current time and the vehicle speed in accordance with the current position of the route bus. For example, it is possible to detect and read the traveling state of the vehicle such as the traveling distance and the vehicle speed of the vehicle. As a result, the route bus 12 uses the GPS 41 of the onboard device 30 mounted thereon,
The vehicle position can be detected at regular intervals (time or distance) that are substantially continuous.

The data transmitted from the route bus includes:
The passenger status may include that the passenger is fully packed. This data may be processed so as to be included when an instruction switch or the like is pressed when the driver is in an emergency state, or another emergency signal may be used. For example, an ABS operation signal, a VSC operation signal, or the like may be used.

Next, the operation of the operation management center 19 for receiving a signal from the route bus 12 will be described. In the present embodiment, the operation management center 19 is for receiving information sent from the route bus, constantly grasping the current position of the route bus, and always monitoring. In addition, the operation management center 19 can create a database of route bus operation data, and can perform operation management of the route bus, creation of an operation plan, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, the management controller 90 installed in the operation management center 19 executes the following interrupt processing every predetermined time (for example, one second or one minute). It is determined whether or not the signal transmitted from T.12 has been received. If no signal has been received, the result in step 400 is NO, and this routine ends.
On the other hand, when the signal is received, the result in step 400 is affirmative, and in the next step 402, the data grasp processing from the route bus 12 is executed. The received signal includes position information for specifying the position of the route bus 12 (including a route bus ID for identifying the route bus).
In the next step 402, the position information is grasped by reading, and the process proceeds to the next step 404, where the current position of the route bus 12 that has received the signal is specified, and the database of the route bus operation data is updated. That is, in step 402, the current position of the route bus 12 is calculated based on the position information from the route bus 12. Step 40
In 2, the traveling speed and time can be obtained. In addition,
The riding state (for example, full capacity) of the route bus 12 may be grasped.

With the above processing, the current position of each of the route buses running on the operation route can be ascertained.

Although the above description has been made of the case where the satellite navigation using the position detection of the route bus is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and any position detecting device may be used. As an example of this position detection device, there is one based on inertial navigation using a gyro or the like, and a position can be specified from a traveling distance or an azimuth.

[Second Embodiment] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case where the timing of transmitting position data is changed according to the speed of a route bus. Note that this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the above embodiment,
The same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the processing routine shown in FIG. 6 is executed in the vehicle-mounted device 30 attached to the route bus 12. The difference between the processing of FIG. 6 and the processing of FIG.
The point is that the processing of steps 120 to 128 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the on-vehicle device 30 attached to the route bus 12, the following interrupt processing is executed every predetermined time (for example, every one minute), and in step 120, the GPS satellites 20A to 20C From the local bus 12
Is calculated (for example, latitude and longitude). In the next step 122, the traveling state of the route bus 12 is detected. In the present embodiment, the vehicle speed V of the route bus 12 is detected.

In the next step 124, it is determined whether or not V≥V0, thereby determining whether or not the route bus 12 is running at a certain speed or higher. This step 124
Is for determining whether or not the route bus is running at high speed. V0 is a predetermined vehicle speed, for example, a minimum speed of a highway exceeding a legal speed of a general road can be determined.

If the answer in step 124 is affirmative, the route bus 12 is running at a high speed, so the process proceeds to step 126,
The reference distance is set long (L0 ← L1: L0 <L1).
On the other hand, if the determination in step 124 is negative, the route bus 12 is running normally, so the process proceeds to step 128 and the reference distance is set short (normally) (L0 ← L2: L2 <L).
1). The settings in steps 126 and 128 are for suppressing the frequency of communication by increasing the traveling distance, which is the timing of communication, during high-speed traveling.

Next, similarly to the above, the travel distance of the route bus (L = P-P0) is calculated (step 102). Then, at the time of data transmission after the route bus 12 has traveled a certain distance and L ≧ L0 (Yes at step 104), the current position data (position P) is stored in the operation management center 19.
(Step 106). For the next determination, the current position is stored in the memory as the previous position (P0 ← P) (step 108), and the value of the traveling distance L is cleared (L = 0) (step 110).

As described above, the reference distance serving as a criterion is changed to be longer during the high-speed running, and the position data of the route bus 12 is transmitted from the route bus 12 at every fixed long distance (L0). Therefore, the traveling distance is long in a short time due to high-speed traveling, that is, the position change (movement amount) of the route bus 12.
, Data transmission (communication) is not performed frequently. Therefore, the communication frequency and the communication cost can be suppressed.

The processing of step 122 in FIG. 6 corresponds to the processing realized by the speed detecting means of the present invention, and a part of the processing of steps 124 to 128 is realized by the speed changing means of the present invention. Processing.

[Third Embodiment] In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case where the timing of transmitting position data is changed in accordance with the approach of a stop existing along a route bus. In this embodiment, since the configuration is substantially the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed in the vehicle-mounted device 30 attached to the route bus 12. The difference between the process of FIG. 7 and the process of FIG.
The point is that the processing of steps 130 to 188 of FIG. 7 is added after step 100 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the in-vehicle device 30 attached to the route bus 12 executes the following interrupt processing every predetermined time (for example, one minute), and the current position of the route bus 12 (for example, latitude and longitude). Is calculated (step 100). In this step 100, the route bus 1 such as the vehicle speed
2 can be detected.

Next, at step 130, the route bus 12
, The position B of the nearest stop is specified. Stop location B
Since the operation route on which the route bus 12 travels is determined in advance, a stop capable of stopping is predetermined on this operation route. Therefore, the first stop on the downstream side of the route bus 12 is specified by the navigation device 45 from the calculated position coordinates of the GPS 41. In the next step 132, the distance to the stop nearest to the specified own position coordinates is calculated. Here, the distance between the current position of the route bus 12 and the stop as the end point is obtained (M = B−
P). The distance to the nearest stop may be a linear distance or a distance along an operation route.

In the next step 134, it is determined whether or not M ≦ M0 to determine whether or not the route bus 12 is approaching the next stop. M0 is a predetermined approach distance, which can be determined, for example, by a ratio of the distance between adjacent stops. If affirmative at step 134,
Since the route bus 12 is approaching the next stop, the process proceeds to step 136, and the reference distance is set short (L0 ← L
3: L3 <L0). On the other hand, if the determination in step 134 is negative, the route bus 12 is not approaching the next stop,
Proceeding to step 138, the reference distance is set longer (normally) (L0 ← L4: L3 <L4). These, Step 1
The settings of 36 and 138 are for improving the distance accuracy by increasing the communication frequency by shortening the traveling distance which is the communication timing when approaching the next stop.

Next, similarly to the above, the travel distance of the route bus (L = P-P0) is calculated (step 102). Then, at the time of data transmission after the route bus 12 has traveled a certain distance and L ≧ L0 (Yes at step 104), the current position data (position P) is stored in the operation management center 19.
(Step 106). For the next determination, the current position is stored in the memory as the previous position (P0 ← P) (step 108), and the value of the traveling distance L is cleared (L = 0) (step 110).

As described above, when approaching a stop, the reference distance serving as a criterion is changed to a shorter distance, and the route bus 12 is switched from the route bus 12 at fixed short distances (L0).
Since the position data is transmitted, the position of the route bus 12 can be accurately grasped, and the operation status near the stop can be grasped in detail.

Step 130 and Step 1 in FIG.
A part of the process of Step 32 corresponds to the process realized by the separation distance detecting means of the present invention, and Steps 134 to 13
A part of the processing of No. 8 corresponds to the processing realized by the separation distance changing unit of the present invention.

[Fourth Embodiment] In this embodiment, the traffic situation around the route bus is grasped based on the data transmitted from the route bus. In this embodiment, since the configuration is substantially the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In recent years, infrastructure facilities have been installed on roads and facilities, and it has become possible for the base station to grasp traffic conditions. However, in an environment where no infrastructure equipment is installed, traffic conditions cannot be grasped. Thus, in the present embodiment, even in an environment where no infrastructure equipment is installed, the traffic condition is predicted using data transmitted from a route bus.

Next, the operation of the bus location guidance system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, route bus 12
The operation of the in-vehicle device 30 mounted on the vehicle will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the in-vehicle device 30 attached to the route bus 12 executes the following interrupt processing every predetermined time (for example, every one minute). It is determined whether it is time to send the position of the route bus 12 (notification timing). This determination is based on the fact that the route bus has traveled the reference distance as described in the above embodiment (step 10).
4) can be used as a criterion. The criterion here may be at regular intervals. Step 140
If the result is negative, the routine is terminated.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 140 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 142 because it is the notification timing, and the GP
GPS from GPS satellites 20A-20C by S41
The signal is received, and its own position, that is, the current position P (for example, latitude and longitude) of the route bus 12 is calculated. In this step 142, the traveling state of the route bus 12 such as the vehicle speed and the environmental state such as the current time can also be detected. These processes correspond to the process of step 100 described above.

In the next step 144, the current position data (position P) is transmitted to the operation management center 19. It is assumed that data including a route bus ID for identifying the route bus is transmitted. This process corresponds to the process of step 106 described above. The operation management center 1
The vehicle speed and time at the time of detection may be further added to the current position data (position P) to be transmitted to 9. Thus, the current position of the route bus 12 is transmitted from the route bus 12 at each notification timing.

Next, the operation of the operation management center 19 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the management controller 90 installed in the operation management center 19 executes the following interrupt processing every predetermined time (for example, one second or one minute). It is determined whether or not the signal transmitted from T.12 has been received. If no signal has been received, the determination in step 410 is negative, and this routine ends.

On the other hand, when a signal is received, step 4
When the result is affirmative at 10, the process of grasping data from the route bus 12 is executed at the next step 412. The received signal includes position information for specifying the position of the route bus 12 (including a route bus ID for identifying the route bus). In step 412, the location information is grasped by reading, the route bus ID and the current position R of the route bus 12 that has received the signal are specified, and the time at which the signal was received is set as the reception time T.

In the next step 414, the previous position R0 of the route bus 12 and the reception time T0 are read from the memory. In this step 414, the position R0 and the reception time T0 of the previous route bus 12 are obtained by referring to the route bus operation data database using the route bus ID specified in the above step 412 as a key. Note that initial values are determined for the position R0 and the reception time T0, and the initial values are read at the first reception.

In the next step 416, the route of the route bus 12 is derived with reference to the route bus operation data database using the route bus ID as a key. In the next step 418, the position Q of the next stop on the operation route is derived, and in the next step 420, the distance X (= QR) from the current position of the route bus 12 to the next stop is calculated. The processing of steps 418 and 420 corresponds to the processing of steps 130 and 132 performed on the operation management center 19 side.

In the next step 422, the operation speed Vx (average value of the traveling speed) of the route bus 12 is derived. The operating speed Vx is obtained by dividing the distance (= R-R0) from the previous position of the route bus to the current position by the elapsed time (= T-T0) obtained by subtracting the reception time of the previous position from the reception time of the current position. Can be obtained by Operating speed V of route bus 12
Since x has been obtained, arrival can be predicted from the distance X to the next stop. Therefore, in the next step 424, the estimated arrival time Tx (= x) of the route bus 12 is calculated from the distance X to the next stop and the operating speed Vx of the route bus 12.
/ Vx). Thus, even in an environment where no infrastructure equipment is installed, it is possible to predict arrival in which surrounding traffic conditions are reflected using data from a route bus.

In the next step 426, the current position R and the reception time T of the received route bus 12 are stored as the previous data using the route bus ID as a key, and the route bus received in the next step 428 is stored. The database of the route bus operation data is updated at twelve current positions R.

According to the above processing, the data transmitted from the route bus is divided into two data having a lapse of time (the previous data and the current data). The operation status including the position can be grasped. Therefore, even if it is difficult to obtain traffic conditions in an environment where no infrastructure equipment is installed, the environment in which the route bus is running can be determined using the data transmitted from the route bus and the time. The operation status of the route bus reflecting the traffic condition around the route bus can be predicted, and the operation management can be easily performed.

According to the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device provided on the route bus has a self-vehicle position grasping function (GPS). The position can be grasped. Therefore, the travel time to the stop can be easily predicted from the change in the travel speed or the travel time for each section. For example, a stop at a red light can be easily determined by comparing the current position of the route bus with the traffic signal on the map, the position of the intersection, and the duration of the speed reduction, and can be reflected in the prediction of the traveling time. Become.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, the position of the moving object is detected by the position detecting means, and the transmitting means is detected based on the traveling distance of the moving object detected by the traveling distance detecting means and the reference distance. Transmits the position of the moving object to the base station, for example, even if the traveling distance is small due to speed on the operation route of the moving object, for example, traffic jam in the vicinity,
There is an effect that data transmission can be performed only when necessary without increasing the number of transmissions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a bus location guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a route bus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a management control device provided in an operation management center.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process performed by the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the route bus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the management control device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of an in-vehicle device mounted on a route bus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process performed by a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a route bus according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process performed by a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a route bus according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a management control device according to a fourth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Bus location guidance system 12 Route bus 14 Operation route 19 Operation management center 19A Communication device for operation management center 30 On-board unit 40 Communication device for route bus 41 GPS

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Nishimura 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation F-term (reference) 2F029 AA02 AB07 AC02 AC06 AC08 AC09 AC13 AC16 AC18 5H180 AA16 BB04 BB05 BB13 CC12 FF01 FF04 FF05 FF10 FF13 FF18 FF22 FF32 5K067 AA21 BB36 DD20 DD53 EE02 EE16 FF23 FF25 HH21 HH23 JJ52 JJ64 KK13 KK15

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A travel distance detecting means for detecting a position of a moving body traveling on a predetermined operation route, a travel distance detecting means for detecting a travel distance of the moving body, and a travel distance detected by the travel distance detecting means. Determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined reference distance has been exceeded from the position of the moving object transmitted last time; and, based on the result of the determining means, the position of the moving object detected by the position detecting means. A communication device for a mobile body, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits data to the mobile device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: speed detecting means for detecting a moving speed of the moving object; and speed changing means for changing the reference distance based on a detection result of the speed detecting means. Item 2. The mobile communication device according to Item 1. 3. A specific position is predetermined in the operation route,
A separation distance detection unit configured to detect a separation distance between the position of the moving body and the specific position; and a separation distance change unit configured to change the reference distance based on a detection result of the separation distance detection unit. The communication device for a mobile body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: